A/N: So I know I start a lot of stories lol but I love giving you all many things to read instead of just sticking to one, and this idea refused to leave my head until I wrote and created something out of it. Now, in this story, you will find that Regina and Emma are slightly different than how they are originally written. Don't worry, they'll change their ways. This is a SQ story, however before we get them together, there will be a little misunderstanding and some funny results. I hope you all enjoy this ride. Happy reading! :)
Do you ever go through life, wondering if you'll ever find the one? I mean, really putting yourself out there, going on one miserable date, after another?
That was Regina's story.
Actually, this was Regina's life.
Bless her heart, the woman couldn't find a decent date to save her life. No one ever seemed perfect enough. Because nobody ever was.
Typically, she would always end up going out with some guy who wasn't organized enough. Or who was allergic to all the foods she was in love with. Another guy, who hated chocolate. I mean, seriously- who hates chocolate?! Once she had a date with a guy who was stuck too far up his own ass, she was sure the guy would have been happier just to date himself.
Sometimes, she even wonders if love was made for her.
Here she was; thirty-five years old, brilliant columnist who got paid to write out a daily scoop on the tragedies of her failed relationships. That was tragically Robert's idea- her boss. Regina was against it- absolutely- one hundred percent- against it. But, as it would appear, Gold was right… Sometimes what people craved more from a love story was the tragedy and not so much the happy ending.
God, that sounded pretty pathetic.
But, that was what her love life had become. Pathetic with a capital P! Tough luck, huh?
What she wouldn't give to just find someone. Anyone! Sometimes, she gave it some serious thought to converting to the opposite sex. Why not? She always did have a sense that women were far more romantic than men. They paid attention to all the little things a lot of guys seemed to miss in a woman like her. Another miserable experience she has encountered many, many times.
After all… Her sister turned to dating women after her failed marriage ended after fifteen years.
Who's to say she, too, wasn't-?
"Gay?" A loud cackle escaped from her sister, alerting the entire nail salon where her and Regina would have some much needed bonding time. Of course, it always turned into a pity conversation on her failed dates and her trying to set her up with one of colleagues from work- which would then also result in a tragedy. "My sister, who mother killed herself over to bring up just right, gay?"
Another cackle escaped her, a little louder that it turned some heads of other customers this time. A woman on her phone even stopped talking to glare in her direction, which Regina quickly took notice of.
"I call this one: the wicked witch of the west." One manicurist said to the other, in Mandarin, who worked on Regina's feet.
"What could possibly be so funny, Zelena?" Regina finally worked up the nerve to ask.
"Oh, come on," Zelena wiped away a drop of tear that had formed on the corner of her eye. "Regina, I would believe you to be a lot of things, but gay isn't one of them." She chuckled, shaking her head.
"Why ever not? You were married to Robin for fifteen years, and you didn't even know you were gay until you divorced and started dating again."
"True," Zelena shrugged. "But, to my defense, I thought the first woman I went on a date with was actually a man."
Regina blinked, her head tilted out as she gawked at her sister. "You're kidding."
"No, honest!" Zelena raises her hand as if she is taking the most solemn oath.
"But… How?"
"She was very convincing." She shrugged again, her red curls hanging over her shoulders. "Anyway, don't be silly! You aren't gay. You, my dear, baby sister are as straight as they come." She chuckled again.
"But, I could be-" Regina fought for this.
"No. You're not." Zelena held out a single digit, similar to their mother's familiar action.
This made the brunette roll her eyes in annoyance. "God, don't do that," she caused her sister to shriek lightly upon grabbing her finger and slightly twisting it. "I hate it when you do that."
"Why must you always do that?" The redhead barked, placing a gentle kiss on her severely injured finger.
"What do you call her?" The other manicurist discretely nodded her head over at Regina, while the other slowly moved her eyes to get a quick glance before she answered.
"The Evil Queen." The shorter one replied.
"I don't see the issue in finding dates. Honestly, Regina. It's not that difficult." Says Zelena.
"I wish I knew," Regina shrugs, sighing as her body sinks more into the leather chair. "I don't know." She frowns. "I just want it to be right. You know? I want that thing to happen that everyone talks about."
"What thing?" Her sister's brow raises.
"You know…" Regina's eyes face forward, instantly become lost in a land of bliss and dreams. "That thing where when you see the person that's meant to be with you forever… You just… Know. The world slows down and time stops all at the same time," the corners of the brunette's lips stretch out into a goofy smile. "The room completely lights up when they've entered it, so much that it causes your own heart along with your breathing to abruptly stop."
Both manicurists, along with Zelena stares are puzzled as they look at the dumbfounded look on Regina's face. Her silly grin, along with the dowey lost look in her eyes.
"My God…" Zelena's voice is soft, startling the brunette from her dreamland. "You seriously have got to get laid." She cackles once again. "You certainly got one thing right. You were meant to be a writer. You are good."
Regina chuckles, her cheeks growing a shade of pink as she brushes back a strand of slightly curly lock behind her ear in a nervous habit. She knew Zelena didn't understand the meaning of true love. No one did. The only person whoever understood her on the subject of true love was no longer with her.
"Anyway," Zelena interrupted her thoughts once again. "I know just the thing to cheer you up." She said, causing Regina to groan in annoyance. She knew what was coming next. Typical Zelena.
"There's this new instructor at the gym where I work-"
"What a shocker." Regina rolled her eyes, her comment going ignored by her sister.
"His name is Chad, and I think you and him will really hit it off." The redhead smirks. "I could pass along your number, if you'd like, and give you his."
"I really don't need anymore of your set-up's, Zelena."
"Oh, come on! Why ever not?"
"The last guy you set me up with was a nightmare!" Regina shook her head.
"Raul?" Zelena's eyes grew wide in pure shock. "He was Puerto Rican. He loves salsa dancing- I thought you'd be into that."
"He also has a severe foot fetish." Regina threw her a glare.
Zlelena smirks. "Don't we all?"
The brunette groaned in disgust, she could feel a shiver run up her spine from the memory of that horrific date.
"Come on. Just give Chad a chance. You'll love him, I promise. He may even give you something to write about."
Regina releases a heavy sigh, clearly of pure exhaustion. "If only. I'm really tired of writing about my failed relationships and dates. I want more, you know?"
"Well, maybe you should talk to that old prune about it." Zelena shrugged. "Fight for your rights as a woman and a writer! Starting with having an unforgettable date with Chad." She grinned for encouragement.
Regina shook her head, rubbing away at her temple, knowing perfectly well that Zelena was not about to let this 'Chad' subject go.
"Twenty bucks, the date turns out to be a flop." One manicurist said to the other, who nodded and hummed in agreement.
Regina stared blankly at her computer screen. The inspiration refused to come to her. Zelena was right. She was worth more than just failed relationships. She was done! Done! She was a writer, damn it, and she would deliver such a good piece to Gold about something so meaningful, he would beg her for more. Possibly give her a raise.
The idea brought a smile to her face as she stretched out her fingers before they hovered over her keyboard.
Okay… She drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. You can do this. You're better than this. You. Are. Better. You are a writer. You are-
"Mills!" Gold's voice startled her, actually making her jump and jerk around in her chair. "You're late." He sneered.
"I'm really sorry. I was stuck in traffic-"
"I don't care. Where's my story?" He interrupted her.
"I-" Regina blinked, resembling the look on a deer as it was caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle.
"Mills…" Gold hovered (he loved to hover) over her. Both of his arms would always tend to lock her in as his right hand would be resting on the arm of her chair, and his left would be resting against the edge of her desk. She hated that. His face would always be inches away from hers. Talk about intimidating. "I'm unhappy. Now, do you want to know why I'm unhappy?"
"Because your alimony check came in?" She was entitled to a wild guess.
"Yes- but, that's not the reason. The reason, my dear, is you. You make me unhappy."
No surprise there. "Me?" Regina blinked once again.
"You should be out there, on your next miserable date waiting to fail so that it can be turned into the most successful article this company has ever had." Gold sneared. "Now, why aren't you?"
"Because-" She's interrupted again.
"Don't say because you're at work." Robert sneared.
"Okay… Robert…" Regina cleared her throat, slithering her way out of her chair, finding that sliding her body underneath Robert's left arm as if she were playing a game of limbo to be her salvation. His body quickly rotated, standing straight to meet with hers. "I think… You and I should have a talk." Her legs were backing up on their own out of fear of the hovering mountain of a man. He really wasn't that tall, and in heels, Regina could pass up as intimidating, but somehow- Robert Gold seemed far more intimidating. "I think…" Let me rephrase that. "Really think that I am capable of more. I have more potential than just writing about failed relationships. I mean, this is my personal life. Shouldn't that be private?" She chuckles, "I mean really, who wants to read about my failed relationships? I'm not even at all interesting."
"Who?" Robert quickens his steps a little too fast for Regina, that her body finds itself backing up against the divider of her cubicle. "The entire city of Boston! That's who! Now, you get out there and get me my next story!"
Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention that Robert Gold yelled as if he was always on the verge of a heart attack?
"Right away," Regina finds herself nodding. Her lungs release a rather heavy sigh once the man is out of her cubicle. Her body can't think of anything but to plop back down and sink into her chair.
"Smooth, Mills. You really told him."
Regina's eyes rolled to the back of her head at the sound of the most annoying voice that could possibly exist on the face of the planet. Everyday, she would have to hear that voice whenever she would attempt to stand up to Killian Jones. Aka, the company's 'pretty boy.' Apart from Gold, he would seem to get some type of sick-twisted satisfaction in seeing her crumble under their boss' glare.
Oh, yeah, also… He wore too much leather for her liking.
"Shove it, Jones." Regina glared up at him as he casually learned against the top of her cubicle divider.
"Ooh… A little foreplay." He smirked.
Boy, did Regina wish she could just pick up her stapler and toss it right at his perfectly pearly white teeth. She wished.
But as fate would have it- and always working at Jones' favor- her phone suddenly made a loud ping! Vibrating in the process against her desk.
As Regina preferred to reach for her phone, she saw an incoming text message from an unknown number, reading the following as she swiped her finger across the screen: 'Hi. This is Chad. Zelena passed along your number. :)'
Regina sighed, knowing that this couldn't lead to anything good. But, what could one more date hurt? Before she knew it, her fingers were already tying in her reply: 'Hi, Chad. I'm Regina. Regina Mills.' She paused… Briefly… She needed to think of the next to say… 'So, are you a trainer, too?'
Good enough, right?
"Gina…" A blonde woman came rushing into the brunette's cubicle, gaining all of her attention. "That was rough, huh?" She breathed, feeling exhausted over her friend's dilemma.
"I have to find something else to write about." She huffed, tossing her phone on her desk in defeat.
"No. You shouldn't." The blonde's eyes looked over at her friend widely.
The brunette chuckled with sarcasm, "I appreciate your support, Kathryn. You're a true friend."
"Oh, sweetie…" Kathryn pulled up another chair, rolling it closer toward the brunette so that they were sitting face to face. "Don't take my advice the wrong way. All I'm saying is, your pieces are a hit."
"For the wrong reasons!" Regina almost cried out, hiding her face in her hands.
"True, but," the blonde's hand rests on Regina's shoulder in support. "At least it gives you something to write about. You could be writing worse, you know? Like me; I'm stuck writing about the difference in pronunciations. At this rate I could get my teaching degree." She grumbles.
Kathryn had a point, that was rather a sad assignment.
Another ping followed by a vibration causes both women to glance over at the tossed phone. Regina picked it up and saw a file had been attached to the following text message. Upon clicking on it, what followed was a picture of Chad, flexing his biceps for her. Undoubtedly at the gym.
"Who is that?!" Kathryn beamed, hovering over the brunette to get a better look at the attachment.
He was built, very broad shoulders and evidently wore too much hair gel, but he was fairly good looking.
"A colleague of Zelena's from the gym. Chad." She said this while keeping the picture open.
"Hello, Chad," Kathryn smirks, reaching for the brunette's phone to get a closer look at the picture. "Are you gonna go out with him? You should go out with him. He is cute."
Regina reached for her phone, snatching away from Kathryn's hands before she drooled the picture off of the screen.
"You know what? I'm going to lend you my lucky blue dress. It will look fabulous on you." She smiled to give the situation a little encouragement.
"But, that's your lucky dress," stated Regina.
"And now it will bring you luck tonight with gorgeous Chad. Trust me, after seeing you in that dress, you will get devoured tonight." She smirks.
Regina chuckled, shaking her head. She looked down at the picture once more. Kathryn was right. He was rather good looking.
What could one more date hurt?
"I can't do this." Regina was on the verge of a panic attack as she looked at herself in the mirror, showered and beautified, transformed in Kathryn's blue dress that ended at mid thigh, and it exposed her back along the spaghetti straps it came with. She had straightened her hair out, and applied some red lipstick, finishing off with at least three sprays of her favorite perfume.
"Yes, you can. Regina…" Kathryn held her friend by the shoulders, forcing to look her in the eye. "He could be the one." She grinned, "Besides, you look hot. I am telling you he is going to love you. Now," she reached for the brunette's purse, placing it over her shoulder as she walked her toward the front door. "Get going, you don't want to be late, do you?"
Regina reached for the door, shutting and locking it in place before Kathryn could push her away any further as she made her way into her car.
"Text me afterward! I want to hear all about it." Kathryn waved, bidding her a farewell and a good luck smile before the brunette drove away toward the restaurant where she and Chad had agreed to meet.
A little dating tip, if he doesn't offer to pick you up. That's usually a red flag, and possibly means the date will end in disaster.
The restaurant was a nice choice. It was quaint, and played soft music. Chad had reserved a table for them outside in the garden area, which gave the ambient a nice romantic touch. Earning him a point with the brunette. He had pulled out her chair for her to sit first, which earned him another fair point. He was slightly shorter than her, which Regina didn't mind at all. She was wearing heels. He smelled good, so he definitely liked looking good and being clean. That was a huge plus for Regina. And he had been a great source for conversation during their entire dinner. Through the span of it all and a few glasses of red wine, she came to learn that Chad also volunteered as a park ranger every other weekend. She did love the smell of forest in a man. He's been single for a year, far less than Regina, so obviously he was quite a catch to women. He owned his own apartment and always paid his taxes on time.
So far so good…
"It's funny, you know, Zelena never mentioned to me before how beautiful her sister was."
Regina couldn't help but blush at that. She reached for her glass of wine to help her hide it for a moment, "Zelena doesn't seem to mention a lot of things…" She feels free to chuckle as she hears a light laugh escape the man's lips.
"That's true. She doesn't." He smiles brightly at her.
There was a delighted sparkle in his eye every time he smiled, that Regina instantly grew to like.
"So, Zelena…" Chad pressed on verbally slowly.
"It's Regina," she reminded him.
"No," Chad chuckles. "I mean, your sister. Does she enjoy dinners like this?" He asks, taking the brunette completely off guard.
Regina swallows down the gulp of wine, nodding to him in confirmation. "I suppose so. Doesn't every girl?" She chuckles.
There's that smile again. She could tell by the look in his body language that he was aching to ask her something, but she couldn't quite put a finger on what it could be.
"Her favorite color is green, isn't it?"
That's not it. "Yes," Regina nods. "I believe it is."
This was not feeling right anymore. The atmosphere had shifted somehow, it was becoming depressing.
"So…" Wait for it. "Zelena…" Wait for it. "She's not like… Available. Is she?"
There it is. Don't you just hate it when the wine unexpectedly goes down the wrong pipe, causing you to end the conversation in a mad coughing fit?
"Are- are you alright?" Chad blinked, looking around to find many eyes staring their way. "Do I need to do the Heimlich on you? I do know how."
Regina shook her head, reaching for the offered glass of water from Chad and taking a much needed sip. A single digit was lifted in a just a moment gesture.
"I'm fine," she finally was able to breathe out, seeing relief wash over Chad's face. "Thank you."
Another red flag: Never date guys who are interested in going out with you simply to learn more about who they are truly interested in. It doesn't do your self esteem any good.
"That asshole!" Regina heard Kathyn's infuriating voice through her phone's speaker while she brushed her teeth for the night. "I'm sorry, Gina. I could have sworn that dress would bring you luck."
"Well, at least now Robert will get his new, miserable dating piece from me." Regina replied after spitting out water into her sink and heading toward her bed.
"I'm so sorry, Gina."
"Don't worry about it. Thank you for lending me your dress." The brunette sighed, "I just need to get some rest. I have an article to write tomorrow."
"You know what? I recently found this dating app, it's guaranteed to help you find someone."
Regina raised a brow at this. "A dating app, Kathryn? That's a guaranteed fail."
"No, seriously! I set up an account for myself. I've been on three successful dates so far. You should consider it. It could help you find the one."
"I honestly don't think there's such a thing anymore." Regina frowns.
"Just consider it. If you don't like it, you can always delete it. No biggie. I'll text you the link."
"Have a good night."
"Bye."
The line went dead, ending the call and shortly after, Regina's attention turned to her vibrating phone altering her of said text message from Kathryn. Her finger swiped across the screen, opening said message and her thumb was left hovering over said link. She chewed on her lower lip as she leaned her back against the fluffiness and comfort of her pillows. This was crazy. No dating app was guaranteed to work! It was a silly waste of time.
Huffing out a scoff, she shut her screen off and placed her phone back against her nightstand, shutting off her lamp and lying on her side, with her back toward the phone.
It was also a last resort. Regina twisted her body, glancing over at her phone who was clearly calling her name. With a huff, she sat back up, reached for her phone and this time, her thumb didn't think twice about clicking on the link, followed by the download option. Her heart had never thumped so hard against her chest as she watched the download bar quickly fill up.
She opened it as it was the last step she needed to do to have complete and total access.
Matched2U! A chuckle escaped her at the ridiculous name. Where did people come up with names like these for such a thing? She shook her head, allowing herself to play around with said app.
"Okay…" Regina breathed out another huffed breath as she began to set up her account, filling out her name, age, sex, and location, followed by a picture. To which the only picture she really found fitting of herself for a thing such as this was one where she looked pretty carefree in a museum of mirrors she and Zelena had visited just last year. Yes, that'll do. Next she was supposed to write something short and brief, but not too short to where it didn't say enough about herself.
This should be easy. She rolled her eyes. No one in real life was ever interested in whatever interested her or what she did for a living. Why would things be any different here?
Journalist by day, movie buff by night. Regina chuckled at how true this was as she continued to write out the following: I am looking to meet someone who can appreciate a good romance, but isn't afraid of a little horror or action film from time to time. If you're a big reader, that's a plus in my book. When I'm not doing any of the mentioned subjects above, I also find myself enjoying long baths, or cooking with the soothing melodies of Marvin Gaye.
Short and sweet. Regina was content with that. Her thumb hovered momentarily over the save option, which eventually was pressed, saving and publishing her information as she was greeted with a Welcome! Message as she was all set up. With that being the last thing she did that night, she decided to turn off her phone and call it a night.